Aljamain Sterling is an elite grappler who is especially skilled in the back mount. On May 6, 2023, at UFC 288, Sterling will compete against Henry Cejudo. Despite having been out of action for over 1,000 days, Cejudo's superior and well-rounded skill set has made him a slight favorite over the current champion. Caesars Sportsbook currently has Cejudo at -115 odds against Sterling, who is known for his exceptional grappling skills with a focus on the back mount.
However, there remains a significant question about Sterling's ability to execute his ground game against Cejudo's Olympic-level wrestling abilities. Although Sterling is competent in striking, he is not particularly impressive in this area.
Who is Aljamain Sterling?
Aljamain Antoine Sterling is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and currently holds the UFC Bantamweight Championship title. He made history by becoming the first UFC champion to win a title by disqualification.
Sterling also fought for the Cage Fury Fighting Championship, where he was the former Bantamweight Champion. According to the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings as of April 11, 2023, he currently holds the sixth position.
What has Aljamain Sterling recently been up to?
At UFC 267, a rematch with Yan was planned for October 30, 2021. Sterling, however, withdrew from the competition on September 25 as a result of ongoing neck problems brought on by surgery.
The fight was originally scheduled to take place on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272, but it was moved to UFC 273 on April 9. Sterling prevailed in a close contest and successfully defended his title. Five of the 18 MMA media outlets gave the fight a draw, while the other 11 gave Sterling the victory.
On October 22, 2022, at UFC 280, Sterling beat T.J. Dillashaw to successfully defend his title. Sterling successfully defended the title by TKO in the second round after Dillashaw dislocated his shoulder in the opening round. This was his first victory by strike in nearly eight years.
Aljamain Sterling’s MMA Record So Far
| 25 Matches | 22 Wins | 3 Losses |
| By Knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By Submission | 8 | 0 |
| By Decision | 10 | 2 |
| By Disqualification | 1 | 0 |
